Planning & Preparation

My plan is to build HMCS U-190, immediately after it was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy in late May 1945. At the time the boat would still be in the DKM colours, but would have a large white "U-190" painted on both sides of the conning tower.

I will be correcting the kit based on historical records and photographs of U-190, as well as making upgrades to impart better detail to the finished model.

 

Components of this model build

  • Revell of Germany :
    Main kit
#05133 : 1/72 German Submarine Type IX C/40 (U 190)

  • RC Subs :
SKU-024 : PE Detail Set for U-190 Type IXC/40
Extensive detail set containing a full PE deck.
Photoetch
Resin Cast parts
Manual
 
SKU-025 : U-190 Tower Correction Set
For me, this was the most important detail set because it corrected the significant differences between the kit-supplied tower (taken directly from the U-505 kit) and the actual U-190 tower.
Photoetch
Manual
 
SKU-017 : Armor Plate Gun 20mm
Proper gun shields for the 20mm guns (per period photos of U-190).
Photoetch
Manual

 

  • SRS (Small Rivets Studio) :
SRS-1450 Flood holes & baffle plates Finely-detailed PE templates with more accurate hull flood holes and interior baffle plates.
SRS-1410 Upper tower interior deck PE deck with finer drainage holes.
SRS-1502
(custom)		 Tower gun platform decks Finely-detailed tower deck set.

Based on the original SRS-1502 deck set, the lower wintergarten deck design was altered for different placement of the ammo cannisters.

 

  • Eduard :
    German Submarine Type IX C/40 (BIG5338)
    Collection of 3 detail sets for hull, tower, and armament.

  • Griffon Models :
    1/72 Standard Armament Scheme for WWII German U-boote Type VIIC/41 (GMA-N005)
    Details and metal barrels for tower armament (2 sets were required to detail the twin 3,7cm cannon).

  • Shapeways 3D-printed parts:
    Periscopes (Super Nashwan Miniatures)
    Rigging insulator set (Super Nashwan Miniatures)

  • Scale Scenics :
    Brass Micro-Mesh (652-3501)
    Used for tower railing catch netting.

  • Archer Fine Transfers :
    Arc weld beads .025 inch (.64mm) - (AR88018)
    U-boat Super Detail Set (AR88023)

 

HMCS U-190 Configuration

Tower Armament:

  • Upper platform: two (2x) double-barrel 2,0cm Flak C/38 on L30/37 mounts
  • Lower platform: (rare) Twin 3,7cm Flakzwilling M43U on LM42U mount


Hydrophone:

  • Balcongerät (streamlined passive-sonar hydrophone apparatus on leading edge of the keel)


Colours:

The colours of U-190 varied depending on the time period and ownership (DKM vs RCN)

DKM Deutsche Kriegsmarine:

  • Tower & upper hull: Schlickgrau 58
  • Deck: Black (wood preservative)
  • Lower hull: Schiffsbodenfarbe III Grau

RCN Royal Canadian Navy (repainted some time after commissioning into RCN):

  • Tower & upper hull: light grey
  • Deck: light grey
  • Lower hull: black

For this build — occurring immediately after commissioning into RCN — HMCS U-190 would still be in DKM colours, but would have large white "U-190" painted on both sides of the conning tower.


Tower markings:

  Emblem Boat designation (U-190)
While operating in DKM [none]
 
Upon surrender to RCN

Emblem repainted to cover swastika 		[none]
 
While operating in RCN
(HMCS U-190)

(Some photos show small hand-painted swastika in center of tower emblem.)

"U-190" painted on
tower sides

 

Flags:

The flags flown on U-190 varied depending on the time period and ownership (DKM vs RCN).
For this build — occurring immediately after commissioning into RCN — HMCS U-190 would fly the White Ensign.

  Historical Revell kit Available alternatives

While operating in DKM

Kriegsmarine Naval Ensign


(missing swastika)
AMP (fabric)
Archer Fine Transfers
 

Upon surrender to RCN

 RCN White Ensign
flown above
Kriegsmarine Naval Ensign
on attack periscope


Duplicata Productions
 

While operating in RCN

 White Ensign flown from various locations.

- full-size flag flown from main flagstaff (tower rear)
[or]
- small-size flag flown from commander's flagstaff (stbd tower)

 

Waterline markings:

 

 

References

Here are several of my reference sources that I used to get more information about Type IXC/40 boats:

Vom Original zum Modell: Uboottype IX C Vom Original zum Modell: Uboottyp IX C
ISBN 3-7637-6005-9)
Fritz Köhl / Axel Niestlé
 
The Wolf Pack The Wolf Pack: A Collection of U-boat Modelling Articles
Dougie Martindale & Wink Grisé
Accurate Model Parts
 
U-505 mods, colours, insignias U 505: Modifications, Colour & Insignia
Dougie Martindale
Accurate Model Parts
 
AMP: Type IX discussion forums

Accurate Model Parts (AMP)
Type IX discussion forums
 

U-boat Archive
   

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